crack

[ krak ]

verb (used without object)

1. to break without complete separation of parts; become fissured:

   The plate cracked when I dropped it, but it was still usable.

2. to break with a sudden, sharp sound:

   The branch cracked under the weight of the snow.

3. to make a sudden, sharp sound in or as if in breaking; snap:

   The whip cracked.

4. (of the voice) to break abruptly and discordantly, especially into an upper register, as because of weariness or emotion.
5. to fail; give way:

   His confidence cracked under the strain.

6. to succumb or break down, especially under severe psychological pressure, torture, or the like:

   They questioned him steadily for 24 hours before he finally cracked.

7. Chemistry. to decompose as a result of being subjected to heat.
8. Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S. to brag; boast.
9. Chiefly Scot. to chat; gossip.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to make a sudden sharp sound:

   The driver cracked the whip.

2. to break without complete separation of parts; break into fissures.
3. to break with a sudden, sharp sound:

   to crack walnuts.

4. to strike and thereby make a sharp noise:

   The boxer cracked his opponent on the jaw.

5. to induce or cause to be stricken with sorrow or emotion; affect deeply.
6. to utter or tell:

   to crack jokes.

7. to cause to make a cracking sound:

   to crack one's knuckles.

8. to damage, weaken, etc.:

   The new evidence against him cracked his composure.

9. to make mentally unsound.
10. to make (the voice) harsh or unmanageable.
11. to solve; decipher:

    to crack a murder case.

12. Informal. to break into (a safe, vault, etc.).
13. Chemistry. to subject to the process of cracking, as in the distillation of petroleum.
14. Informal. to open and drink (a bottle of wine, liquor, beer, etc.).

noun

1. a break without complete separation of parts; fissure.
2. a slight opening, as between boards in a floor or wall, or between a door and its doorpost.
3. a sudden, sharp noise, as of something breaking.
4. the snap of or as of a whip.
5. a resounding blow:

   He received a terrific crack on the head when the branch fell.

6. Informal. a witty or cutting remark; wisecrack.
7. a break or change in the flow or tone of the voice.
8. Informal. opportunity; chance; try:

   Give him first crack at the new job.

9. a flaw or defect.
10. Also called rock. Slang. pellet-size pieces of highly purified cocaine, prepared with other ingredients for smoking, and known to be especially potent and addicting.
11. Masonry. check ¹( def 44 ).
12. a mental defect or deficiency.
13. a shot, as with a rifle:

    At the first crack, the deer fell.

14. a moment; instant:

    He was on his feet again in a crack.

15. Slang. a burglary, especially an instance of housebreaking.
16. Chiefly British. a person or thing that excels in some respect.
17. Slang: Vulgar. the vulva.
18. Chiefly Scot. conversation; chat.
19. British Dialect. boasting; braggadocio.
20. Archaic. a burglar.

adjective

1. first-rate; excellent:

   a crack shot.

adverb

1. with a cracking sound.

verb phrase

1. Nautical.
   1. (of a sailing vessel) to sail in high winds under sails that would normally be furled.
   2. (of a power vessel) to advance at full speed in heavy weather.
2. to take severe or stern measures, especially in enforcing obedience to laws or regulations:

   The police are starting to crack down on local drug dealers.

3. Informal.
   1. to suffer a mental or emotional breakdown.
   2. to crash, as in an automobile or airplane:

      He skidded into the telephone pole and cracked up.

   3. to wreck an automobile, airplane, or other vehicle.
   4. to laugh or to cause to laugh unrestrainedly:

      That story about the revolving door really cracked me up. Ed cracked up, too, when he heard it.

4. to cause (a piece of hot glass) to fall from a blowpipe or punty.

crack

/ kræk /

verb

1. to break or cause to break without complete separation of the parts

   the vase was cracked but unbroken

2. to break or cause to break with a sudden sharp sound; snap

   to crack a nut

3. to make or cause to make a sudden sharp sound

   to crack a whip

4. to cause (the voice) to change tone or become harsh or (of the voice) to change tone, esp to a higher register; break
5. informal.
   to fail or cause to fail
6. to yield or cause to yield

   to crack under torture

7. tr to hit with a forceful or resounding blow
8. tr to break into or force open

   to crack a safe

9. tr to solve or decipher (a code, problem, etc)
10. informal.
    tr to tell (a joke, etc)
11. to break (a molecule) into smaller molecules or radicals by the action of heat, as in the distillation of petroleum
12. tr to open (esp a bottle) for drinking

    let's crack another bottle

13. dialect.
    intr to chat; gossip
14. informal.
    tr to achieve (esp in the phrase crack it )
15. informal.
    tr to find or catch

    to crack a wave in surfing

16. crack a smile informal.
    to break into a smile
17. crack hardy or crack hearty informal.
    to disguise one's discomfort, etc; put on a bold front
18. crack the whip informal.
    to assert one's authority, esp to put people under pressure to work harder

noun

1. a sudden sharp noise
2. a break or fracture without complete separation of the two parts

   a crack in the window

3. a narrow opening or fissure
4. informal.
   a resounding blow
5. a physical or mental defect; flaw
6. a moment or specific instant

   the crack of day

7. a broken or cracked tone of voice, as a boy's during puberty
8. informal.
   often foll by at an attempt; opportunity to try

   he had a crack at the problem

9. slang.
   a gibe; wisecrack; joke
10. slang.
    a person that excels
11. dialect.
    a talk; chat
12. slang.
    a processed form of cocaine hydrochloride used as a stimulant. It is highly addictive
13. informal.
    Alsocraic fun; informal entertainment

    the crack was great in here last night

14. obsolete.
    a burglar or burglary
15. crack of dawn
    1. the very instant that the sun rises
    2. very early in the morning
16. a fair crack of the whip informal.
    a fair chance or opportunity
17. crack of doom
    doomsday; the end of the world; the Day of Judgment

adjective

1. slang.
   prenominal first-class; excellent

   a crack shot

Other Words From

• cracka·ble adjective
• crackless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of crack¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English crak (noun), crak(k)en (verb), Old English cracian “to resound”; cognate with German krachen, Dutch kraken (verb), and German Krach, Dutch krak (noun)

Word History and Origins

Origin of crack¹

Old English cracian; related to Old High German krahhōn, Dutch kraken, Sanskrit gárjati he roars

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. crack a book, Informal. to open a book in order to study or read:

   He hardly ever cracked a book.

2. crack a smile, Informal. to smile.
3. crack wise, Slang. to wisecrack:

   We tried to be serious, but he was always cracking wise.

4. fall through the cracks, to be overlooked, missed, or neglected: Also slip between the cracks.

   In any inspection process some defective materials will fall through the cracks.

5. get cracking, Informal.
   1. to begin moving or working; start:

      Let's get cracking on these dirty dishes!

   2. to work or move more quickly.

More idioms and phrases containing crack

• by jove (cracky)
• fall between the cracks
• get cracking
• hard nut to crack
• have a crack at
• make a crack
• not all it's cracked up to be
• paper over (the cracks)

Example Sentences

Kevin Plumb, representing the league, said efforts to protect broadcast rights would continue by cracking down on illegal operators “no matter the scale”.

From BBC

“Texas is cracking down on doctors illegally prescribing dangerous ‘gender transition’ drugs to children,” Paxton said in a statement.

From Salon

McKagan remembers Hollywood then as being a maelstrom of crime and drugs, with helicopters patrolling the area, gang wars and the crack epidemic.

From Los Angeles Times

By 2026, the county will create an independent ethics commission, responsible for disciplining county officials found guilty of misconduct and cracking down on a “revolving door” from government posts to lobbying.

From Los Angeles Times

We should not let veterans fall through the cracks based on subjective notions of honor and shame.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• super